An amazing story of love, Andy. I made it a point to copy this beautiful prayer to my phone. It all goes back to our individual calls to this little forum. Many of us are here for reasons yet unknown to us, but when that moment arrives, as it did for you, we will know exactly why the Blessed Mother led us here.
The Holy Family Among Robbers At some distance from the road by which they were travelling, a light glimmered through the dark-ness. It proceeded from a hut belonging to a gang of robbers, who had hung a light on a neighboring tree, thus to allure travelers. The road too, here and there, was broken by pits over which cords with little bells were stretched. The ringing of these bells gave notice to the robbers of the presence of luckless wayfarers. All on a sudden, I saw a man with about five comrades surrounding the Holy Family. All were actuated by wicked intentions. But when they looked at the Child, I saw a glittering ray like an arrow penetrating the heart of the leader, who straightaway commanded his comrades to offer no injury to the strangers. Mary also saw the ray. The robber now took the Holy Family to his home, and told his wife how strangely his heart had been moved. The people were at first shy and shamefaced, something very unusual for them; still they approached, little by little, and gathered around the Holy Family, who had seated themselves in a corner on the ground. Some of the men went in and out, while the woman brought to Mary little rolls, fruits, honeycomb, and cups containing something to drink. The ass also was placed under shelter. The woman cleared out a small room for Mary and brought her a little tub of water in which to bathe the Child. She also dried the swathing bands for her at the fire. The husband was deeply impressed by the demeanor of the Holy Family, and especially the appearance of the Child. He said to his wife, “This Hebrew Child is no ordinary child. Beg the Lady to allow us to wash our leprous child in His bathing water. It may, perhaps, do it some good.” The wife went to request the favor of the Blessed Virgin; but before she had time to speak, Mary bade her take the water she had used for Jesus’ bath, wash the sick child in it, and it would become cleaner than it was before attacked by the disease. The boy was about three years old and stiff from leprosy. His mother carried him in and put him into the bath. Wherever the water touched him, the leprosy fell like scales to the bottom of the tub; the boy became clean and well. The mother was out of herself with joy; she wanted to embrace Mary and the Child Jesus. But Mary, stretching out her hand, warded her off; she would allow neither the Child nor herself to be touched by her. She told her to dig a hole deep down to a rock, and pour the water just used into it, that she might always have it for similar purposes. Mary spoke with her long, and exacted from her a promise to embrace the first opportunity of escape from her present abode. The people were all delighted; they stood around the Holy Family gazing at them in wonder. During the night, other members of their band came to the hut, and to them the boy’s cure was related. The robbers’ reverential bearing toward the Holy Family was so much the more remarkable, since I saw that night many travelers, attracted to their hut by the light, immediately taken prisoner and carried deep into the forest to an immense cave that served for their special storehouse. It lay under a thicket, the entrance closely concealed. In it were clothes, carpets, meat, goats, sheep, and innumerable other stolen things, all in profusion. I saw also boys about seven or eight years old whom the robbers had kidnapped. They were cared for by an old woman who lived in the cave. Mary slept none that night; she sat upon her couch on the floor perfectly still. At early dawn the Holy Family started again on their journey in spite of the robber and his wife, who wanted them to stay longer. They took with them a supply of provisions put up by their grateful host and hostess who also accompanied them a part of the way, that they might escape the snares. The robber and his wife took leave of the Holy Family with expressions of deep feeling, uttering these remarkable words: “Remember us wherever you go!” Upon hearing them, I had a vision in which I saw that the cured boy afterward turned out to be the Good Thief who on the cross said to Jesus: “Remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom.” The robber’s wife, after some time, joined those that dwelt around the balsam garden. From the Nativity of the Virgin Mary to the death of patriarch Saint Joseph - Part 8 – The complete visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich
Interesting; the good thief did not have the opportunity to be baptized, but this healing of leprosy in his childhood by the water in which the Infant Jesus was washed seems to be analogous to the baptism that cleanses us from the leprosy of sin.
Also baptism by blood Catholic Dictionary Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, BAPTISM OF BLOOD Martyrdom in the case of a person who died for the Christian faith before he or she could receive the sacrament. The effects of martyrdom of blood are the complete remission of sin and the title to immediate entrance into heaven. The expression entered the Christian vocabulary during the first three centuries when many catechumens awaiting baptism and pagans suddenly converted to the Christian faith were martyred before they could receive formal baptism of water. Dictionary : BAPTISM OF BLOOD | Catholic Culture
Matthew Arnold had a poem where Judas escaped hell once a year, in christmas, because he once gave away his coat to a leper when alive. its just a poem and not theology, but interesting folk story
Interesting. Since he is the only one of the original twelve who does not have an St. in front of his name, it's hard not to wonder if that would be possible as part of his "particular" hell. Wouldn't it be a sort of "torture" to be let out, even if once a year? There are some who seem to have done very well at hiding their true intentions well over the years......or perhaps for some reason, changed sides somewhere along the way. Here is a recent statement from a former "bright light" of Canada. It's barely comprehensible to me. But there it is.... https://english.katholisch.de/artikel/50488-cardinal-ouellet-the-age-of-christianity-is-over
Thank you, Andy, for telling us about your grandmother and the powerful effect of that prayer of consecration. Thanks, also, for posting a link to the prayer. I'll be able to print a copy from the website.
After my brothers death, my mother was so afraid that his soul was lost. Incredible Catholic that she was and a few months later, I was asleep in my room. I awoke to a beautiful large figure. A beautiful angel that lit up my whole room. I panicked and ran to my moms room and I could still see this beautiful angel from her room. She jumped up snd when she looked it was gone. May 1976 I was 12 and quite a scared cat. My mother than told me that she begged for a sign and that was her answer from God. She was so happy!!
I started reading this and realized that it is long. It’s really excellent. It is very difficult, though, to learn about Hell in such detail.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. I think this is all we really need to know hell is real. Jesus Christ went there after his death and freed many of those enslaved there.
Reading the link, hell seems to incredibly cruel. Why would a good God allow this for all eternity? Sometimes I sympathize with Pope Francis.
Hell was created as a place for Lucifer and the demons. But it follows that those who are unrepentant have chosen by their actions to be there.
I like to think of what Jesus usually described....OUTSIDE of the gates of Heaven where the demons are and there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. If the Holy Spirit would have to leave your body in this life because of your mortal sin, well it makes sense that you could not live with God in the next, so you would be locked outside. This would be your own choice to associate with the enemies of God, as this is what you chose in life. Then after the Second Coming and Judgement, the earth is opened up and the demons and all of God's enemies will be cast into the pit filled with fire which seems to be an actual place in the material world.
